Sekvantoj

Friday, 25 January 2008

Vivanta Lingvo vs.Vaka Trono

For those in the army, disregarding the woman on the coins can bring a lot of trouble.

Canadian Armed Forces Captain Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh found this out the hard way. In 2001, the officer--a professor of physics at the Royal Military Academy--attempted to gain exemption from the military's mandatory swearing of loyalty to the Queen. His initial efforts were turned down and now, seven years later, Federal Court Justice R.L. Barnes has rejected his appeal.

Given the lack of active participation of British Royalty in contemporary Canadian life, political or otherwise, it seems likely that most military personnel swear the oath of fealty without much thought. The reason why this particular quest for an exemption is unique is that Chainnigh feels strong ties to his Irish heritage. Indeed, he is one of very few fluent in the Irish language….

….The Queen's power in this nation has shriveled and become nothing more than historical formality. There is no reason to place it in higher regard than considerations of multiculturalism as this case has done.